The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

SCIENTIFIC NOTES. Tiwnsmittane* of Sound, The invention of the phonograph in America has been followed up by the discovery of a means by which sounds are transmitted by a beam of light. The transmitter consists of an arc lamp,from whicll a parallel beam of light is directed upon a mirror, where it is reflected to the distant station. This reflecting mirror is a disc of very thin glass, silvered on its reverse side. A speaking tube com- municates with the back of the mirror, and the sounds cause a corresponding vibration of the thin glass, which, in turn, produces slight alterations in the direction of the reflected light. The receiver is a parabolic mirror, at the print ipal focus of which is a bulb tube containing burnt cork. A hearing tube is connected to this tube, and the sounds heard are s ud to be very apparent though not altogether articulate, reproductions of those uttered upon the transmitter. The new instrument is called a "Radiophone." It cannot yet bs put to any practical use, but there are possibilities in it. Karthciuakes and Volcanoes. That earthquakes are closely allied to volcanoes it, says Cassell's work, "Our Earth and its Story,* proved by the following facts: (1) that volcanic districts are also those frequently affectt-d by earth- quakes: ,.2) that a vc icanic outburst is generally preceded by a greater or less number of earth tremors; and (3) that a volcanic outburst is of tea the signal for earth shakings in another or the same region to suddenly cease. The crater seems to act like a safety-valve for the labouring earth. For instance, when the volcano of St. Vincent, which had been dormant for the better part of a century, bust into renewed action, the earthquakes in South America, which for many months previously had been more than usually lively, ceased. In Cali- fornia, also, it is often remarked that earthquakes are rare while the Hawaiian volcanoes are at work. At the same time, though there is thus a close con- nection between the two sets of phenomena, there are plenty of earthquakes in quarters of the world where volcanoes are unknown. Spain and Portugal, for example, have been the scene of s ine of the most tremendous of modern earthquakes. Yet there are uo active craVrs ir. the Peninsula. Great Britain is also a region of mild, though steady "seismic'" r.ctioa; there have b-en within the period ever which history extends several tolerably severe shocks in these islands. with few exceptions, most of them have d n • no more damage than causing a sensible treni.-r breakage of crock- ry, Gr. at worst-like that d Eb?-' x in 1884- -a wreckage ot church spires and old hou-.cs. Yet, though the Britain of the past was a Lmd of oft- repeated volcanic action, at present the nearest active volr-nces are those of Iceland. Indeed, the instruments set up in the tower of Comrie Church, in. Perthshire, shew that the earth is seldom abso- lutely still, faint tremors being of continual occur- rence, though the bulk of t'icm ar-i so mild as to be unperceived by the human senses. The Platinccype Process in Photography. The advent oi a process which, like the carbon method, is undoubtedly permanent, marked an era in the history of photography. This process, named as above, is due to Mr. Willis, who discovered the fact that when the chlorc-platmite of potassium was mixed with ferric-oxalate, and paper was coated w th this compound, the light, after exposure beneath the negative in the usual manner, reduced the platinum salt to a metallic state upon the appli- cation of a hot solution of neutral potassic oxalate. Now, metallic platinum is rightly regarded by chemists as one of the most stable compounds known. It is acted upon nei'.her by acias nor alkalies; indeed, we may say that no sgent, short of one which will actual-y destroy the psper upon which the image is supported, is capable of injur- ing a picture produced by this means Paper pre- par d in the manner described is obtainable only of the Platinorype Company, who hold the s^le right to supply it to workers uudu Mr. Willis's patents, but we may as well ind.catv br'eriy the way in which it is prepared. The pai.< r first of all sized, so that the soiutior.4 tf.erwards applied to it shall not sink into its substance, but shall remain on the surface. It is then coated with the sensi- tive mixture by means of a coating; machine invented by Mr. Willis—who is a practical engineer-f; r tlif purpose, 'IiJi5 coating must take place, as may be i, agined, in very feeble non- actinic light, and gr at care is necessary in drying it neither too siow.y nor too quickly. It is so sensi- tive to moisture, as well as to li¡.;ht., that it is sup- plied in tin tubes, which are furnished with a little box of calcium chloride, which, from its hygroscopic nat :r- absorbs any moisture, which may be in its neighbourhood. Precautions against, moisture must aiso be tAk'?'n wh. n the j-ap-r is placed on the negative in the piinting frame, when it should be backed with peifecrly dry india-rubber cloth, or some such material, to prevent any moisture geiring to it during its exposure to light. The time cf exposure is less than that which would be necessary in t!> ease of a silver print of the same subject. 1. uu v, ■ is uintly discernible when exiosure is complete, and alter some little experience trie wcrk-r is aide to see when the opera- tion should be stopped. It' the prints cannot be de- veloped at once, they must be returned to a similar calcium tube to that from whirr, (h" paper was originally taken, fo that no ill effes t can happen to them from the moist-sre »lw«y- present iii the air. —Cassell's }V t'lV l'tci, nicr" Educator. A Dream of Science. An interesting speculative arc; le on "The Cessa- tion of Life" recently appeared in the Revue Scien- tijique. The author begins at the wrong end of his subject and works downwards, coní muting the bewildered reader first with visions of the countless millions of centuries which must elapse before the universe, that "dust of the world," can finally come to an end and be used up. The life oi the sun, which is the point at whieh our interest commences, hat been estimated by careful thinkers. It will be 25 to 30 millions of years before the sun's autumnal period can set in. and be followed by the winter of death. The life o' the earth is assigned within still finer limits. Science can even prognosticate the probable causes of its decay. Taking so-called natural causes firsf, all human and the higher organic life will die off long before the extinction of the sun's fires. Wneu the spots that now fleck the equatorial zone of the sun have developed into patches sofficiently large to cause eerious interference of light and neat, biglnr life will become impossible. Trere is, however, a cause at work within the earth itself whi.:h might anticipate this crisis. Gradually, but surely, the erosion of coast-line by the sea, the lUtt J- ing of mountains by torrent and glacier, are reducing dry land to the level or 'he o.ean. When the levelling is complete, earth will bee rae but one vast swamp, unsuitable for human ide. Four or five million years is the period gi wen to the earth by geologists wherein to reach this stage. At this time, also, the dryness of the air, no longer refracting and storing up the solar heat, will leave the surface of our little globe at the mercy of the interstellar cold This effect, however, is neither so certain nor s) easily calculable as the former one. ft is Bupposi-d to be borne out in part by the example of M Ir" and the moon, the first of which appears to have no oceans left, but only inland seas; while Jine other has absorbed its oceans, atmosphere, and all it ever had. But besides the natural cause. of decay, M. d'Estienne, the above-l'Ilentio'led author, revels in what we must call by contrast the "u matural." He paints in glowing imagery what w >u!d happen, and in fact what at any time might happen, if the earth, in its journey with the solar system towards the constellation Hercules, were to encounter mdes bolides, des uranolithes!" "A urauolith of dimensions comparable to the earth, cruising darkly through space, would indeed be a dang"Im ob- stacle to run against, and, as M. d'Es'ie^ne suggests, there would be copy for the stellar journalists in the "sudden flare-up of another star," which would result. But the list of "unnatural" dangers is too long for more than passing mention. It includes falling into the sun, of course and also a contingency that does not trouble the daily lives of most of us, viz., that we might become entangled in a system of electric forces which would burn the world up suddenly like a piece of platinum wire. Employer: "So you v- f in advance? But r-: >; '-r morrow?" Clerk (prow but I am gent -<-rrs •„ Wil-on: "1 despi.-■ a • i'tc. "ck d) I." "N m, take J n'kto.i, f<,i he's the biggest "typocrit- cr. earth i thu-t man," "But you appear to be H* n nri." "0), y's, I try t 1 at fr:e' n -in-, r.. I ays better in the ex Rebuffed —An old < ,er > siiopk, ?i- end- ing in front of his ia t.t'A othe .oking at the clouds, whnn a go i be frie dly approached n (l .M: like we might iitv, ,0" r'i u, V German looke at him witn a>.t said: "Ve! Since veu vas ve, p r,.

CONTEMPORARY CHAT. I • At last Darwinism has received its due reward. One time its author was denounced as "unsound" respecting the first chapter of Genesis, but the Devil's Advocate at Oxford seems to have got over that slight difficulty, for the Clarendon Preas has published a botanical work on which appear the words "Beati Caroli Roberti Darwin." Rome may have its Index Expurgatorius for our men of science,rbut Oxford is determined to have a Saints' Calendar of its own for them. "Beatus"or "St. Darwin" is capital. M. Mirko Hovat, the President of the Croatian Diet, has just died at Diakover in his 65th year. He was the son of a butcher at' Agram and t'says the Times) up to the year 1873 was the most enthusiastic supporter of the policy of the Croatian Bishop Strossmayer, whose Russophile and Pan- slavist proclivities have caused uneasiness to the Hungarian Government on numerous occasions. In 1867 M. Hovat was the leading member of the Opposition party in the county of Verocze, and tn a noteworthy speech caused the withdrawal of the proposition that had been made to send a. patriotic deputation to the Royal Coronation at Buda-Pesth. After the revision of the compromise between Croatia and Hungary in 1873 he joined the Unionists, and, having entirely severed his con- nection with the irreconcilable Bishop Strossmayer, became the leader of that party. In 1886 he was elected president of the Croatian Diet, and his conduct of the affairs of that body was distin- guished by unfailing energy. By his death a man as remarkable for his strength of character as for his patriotism disappears from public life tn Croatia. It is amusing to look over the report of business transacted by the Northern Counties Amateur Athletic Association on Thursday night, says a London contemporary. It is like the record of a police-court after a heavy list of night charges. Sentences of suspension ranging from a month to a couple of years were meted out in profusion, while to some even the extreme penal servitude for life Was allotted. Amateur athletics must be in Sultry condition up North. They are not much better down here. In reality many may say they are Worse. The purists are at their wits' end. Stringent regulations have been laid down, but they are simply disregarded, and any attempt to deal with offences is opposed by those who derive benefit frorn malpractices. Better the old days of the "gentleman amateur than the degenerate days that athletics have fallen upon. They are now gradually linking under the control of low-class betting men. Just imagine what the suspension or caution of 32 tnen at one meeting means. If these have been detected, hOW many have got off, and how many are habitually pursuing the same pleasant games P There are plenty of runners who make a decent in come from amateur athletics, and who are not Slow to assist in roping or fouling when it brings gold to their coffers. "We have received," says the Law Journal, "a letter from Mrs. Hurlbert relative to the case between her husband and Gladys Evelyn. She resents the tone of the article which we Published some weeks ago, and asks what we know personally of her husband that we should take part against him. Of course we know per- sonally nothing either of him or of the lady who lightly calls herself his devoted wife,' but we do know something of the case, and recognise its importance. The facts are these: A case is tried before Mr. Justice Cave in which either plaintiff or defendant commit perjury probably unequalled in the history of crime. For some reason or other, which on this occasion we do not desire to consider, the authori- ties came to the conclusion that prima facie the de- fendant is the perjurer-at any rate they determine to prosecute him. He goes away, and refuses to sur- render to take his trial, Now, in the interests of Justice, that trial ought to take place, and the Prejudice against the man who evades it is natural. Why does he not again face an Eng- lish jury, a tribunal which so far he has not found unfavourable ? The answer which lie gives, and which is repeated in Mrs. Hurlbert's letter to us, if not sufficient, does not fall far abort of it. The point of the case is really this Is Wilfrid Murray identical with Mr. Burlbert or not ? Mrs. Hurlbert states that she her- lelr knew Wilfrid Murray, and that she is in a posi- tion to prove that upon several of the occasions "pon which Wilfrid Murray is alleged to have been with plaintiff, Mr. Hurlbert was at the time in a totally different locality. Should she succeed in proving this, the C&ae against Mr. Hurlbert would perhaps break down, and justice alike demands that, whenever the Accusations against Mr. Hurlburt are re-investigated, both he and his wife should have an opportu- nity of being heard on oath. The English law bars their right to be heard, and in that respect reason and justice are in conflict with English law." Several letters have appeared in the newspapers fecently complaining of the incivility of the vergers Of Westminster Abbey, and also about the regula- tions that are in force there for the control of Visitors. Upon neither of these matters, writes Marmaduke" in the Graphic, can I speak, for I know nothing whatever about them. But only a few days ago I was rambling around the Abbey ^ith one of the Canons, and he drew my attention to the disgraceful state in which it is kept. There 18 a little room to the right of the high altar-it is Closed to the public-in which are stored the wax- Work effigies of the Kings and Queens of England and certain other national celebrities, which were carried before them at their funerals. They are all ■Unaptuously dressed in the costumes of their Various periods, and they are of equal interest, as Probably being good likenesses of the personages themselves, and as also furnishing reliable examples Of how they used to dress. Some of the lace with Which Queen Elizabeth is adorned is of great value. It is incredible, no doubt, but nevertheless true that these effigies are all of them overlaid with dust, which, without the slightest exaggeration, is quarter of an inch thick! But the dirt and dust throughout the Abbey is something that cannot be described. Amongst the effigies there is an excel- lent one of Lord Nelson. Another curiosity is a large wooden box which is labelled with white- minted letters, "Bones of Major Andre "—he was hanged as a spy, it will be remembered, by the ^Qiericans during the War of Independence. I Opened the box, but, instead of the Major's bones, I found a store of glass chimneys Another trifle Abbey lore is that late in the last century, and till early in the present one, the Abbey was per- mitted to be used as a play-yard by the boys of Westminster School. It is to the high jinks which they had here in those days that may be traced Jbuch of the damage within the building. Still Mother curious item. Along the side of th3 tomb Of One of the Edwards there are several brass Statuettes- representing him and various members of the family. They were discovered in a pawnbroker's ^ndow, recognised, and replaced. Somebody had Apparently stolen and sold them! But for the fortunate accident which led to their recovery, these exquisite and interesting little statuettes t4ight have been lost for ever to the nation. SMUGGLING IN GERMANY. Her Majesty's Consul at Mannheim reports to the -oreign Office that, in spite of all attempts to re- Preas it, smuggling is very active in Germany. and j* the tariff war with Russia is giving it fresh life, from Russia, cattle, especially pigs, are smuggled i?to Germany; from Austria, wine and cattle from ?*ance, brandy and manufactured tobacco; and Ir°»n other countries, brandy, wine, coffee, tobacco, and sugar. The Consul states that smuggling On the Continent generally is on the increase and popular. The people encourage it, and regard S^VSgled articles in especial estimation, apart from their cheapness.

THE REGENT'S SQUARE TRAGEDY. 1 INQUEST AND VERDICT. On Saturday morning, at St. Pancras Coroner's* court, Dr. G. Danford Thomas opened an inquiry touching the deaths of Bessie Montagu, aged 25. a chorus singer; Leo Eugene Percy, 26; and Stephen Percy Garcia, aged 27 years, who were the victims of the tragedy enacted in Regent's. square in the early morning of Thursday last. Mr. R. G. Davis, solicitor, appeared for the relatives of the daceased man Garcia, and Sub-divisional Inspector Robinson watched the case on behalf of the police authorities.—The first witness called was John Montague, a law writer, who identified the body of Bessie Montague as his sister, who resided with him at 18, Regent's-square. Witness last saw her alive on Wednesday morning when she was in her usual health. At one time his sister was engaged to be married to the deceased man Percy, but the en- gagement was broken off about three years ago. Witness understood that Percy was an inventor of some kind.—Mr. Samuel Garcia, an ironmonger, identified the body of the deceased man Garcia as that of his brother, who was a stockbroker, residing at the Vernon-chambers, Southampton-row. Witness last saw him alive at 7 p.m.,onWednesday.—Stephen Percy, a telephone mouth-piece manufacturer, identified the third body as that of his son, who was an electrician and scientific engineer, residing at 29, Swinton-street, Gray's-inn-road. Witness was aware that his son was at one time engaged to Miss Montague, and although the engagement was broken off he believed they were on friendly terms. Witness had heard from a friend that his son's behaviour had been very strange of late.- Cecil Victor Percy, brother of the deceased, an operatic singer, deposed that he had noticed a very strange look in his brother's face of late. Sometime age he took an overdose of laudanum, but recovered from this, and told witness that he had taken it to induce sleep. The deceased was a very temperate man in his drinking habits, but was very ex- citable. Witness had never seen him threaten to take his own life, but he would sit for hours at a stretch staring wildly at the people in the room without saying a word. — Mrs. Winterbotham stated that on Thursday morn- ing she saw Miss Montague and Mr. Garcia come along the square, she leaning on his arm, from the direction of Compton-street. They were laughing and joking together. Suddenly she saw the figure of a man dart from the doorway of 23, and go behind them, and all of a sudden she saw his hand go up, after which there was a flash and a shot. After the second shot the gentleman fell. There was directly after that a third shot, and the lady screamed and fell. She afterwards heard a fourth shot, after which she fell down. Afterwards she went out, and saw the persons outside on the pavement, blood being about. -The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Percy, and that he afterwards killed himself whilst of unsound mind. After the inquest, the remains of Mr. Garcia were removed to the mortuary of the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's-inn-road. During the evening, in accordance with the Jewish rites, a service was conducted in the mortuary, attended by the rela- tives of the deceased. At noon oc Sunday the body was placed in a hearse drawn by two horses and taken from the hospital for burial at the Por- tuguese Burial Ground, Mile End-road. The rela- tives and friends of the deceased, numbering about 50, followed in carriages to the burial ground, where the burial service was conducted by the Rev. M. Ross. The funerals of Miss Montague and Leo Percy took place on Tuesday.

THE RAILWAY DISASTER IN AMERICA. BARNARDO BOYS KILLED AND INJURED. A Chicago correspondent furnishes additional par- ticulars of the collision between the second section of the westward-bound vestibule express on the Wabash line, and a freight train near Kingsbury, 62 miles east of that city. The switch, it appears, had been left open by a careless workman, and the express, which was travelling at the rate of 50 miles an hour, dashed into the goods train. Both the engines and luggage cars, two day coaches, and one Pullman sleeping-carriage were telescoped. Most of the passengers were in the day coaches. The Wabash Company have issued a bulletin an- nouncing the accident, and stating that 12 lives have been lost and that 15 persons have been injured. This, however, is believed to be much below the actual figure. The wrecked train was the second section of the express which left Detroit at 10 o'clock on Friday night. The goods train with which it collided had orders to allow it to pass at Kingsbury. In order to carry out these instructions the goods train was shunted to a siding, where it remained till the first section of the express had passed, when the brakesman of the latter train un- wisely opened the switch to allow the goods train to regain tHfe main line. Before this could be accomplished the express came up, and, there being no time to close the switch, dashed into the goods train. So great was the force of the collision that the fragments of the boiler of the ex- press were blown 50 yards away, and several per- sons were killed by the flying pieces. The first body taken out from the ruins of the smoking-car was that of Henry French, from Loudon. The passengers on the sleeping carriages were all in their berths,. yet few of them were killed. Most of the fatalities were in the other pas- senger coaches and the smoking saloon. Those vehicles were completely shattered, and several of the occupants were crushed to death. The engiue- driver of the express was thrown over his own engine and the engines of the goods trains and crushed under the debris. A number of boys from Dr. Barnardo's Orphanage, London, were in the train and were badly injured, while two of their number, Harry French and William Hoskins, have aied from their injuries. Mr. Weekly, ti,e manager, has bpen badly hurt. Among the others injured are William Adams, a member of the Orphan Bellringers, whose legs were broken, and who is likely to die owing to severe internal injuries; Edward Rush, who had his head badly cu:, and Albert Morton's whose arms were somewhat seriously hurt. The above mentioned are all from London.

FRAUD ON A BANK. Detectives from Scotland-yard are busily engaged making inquiries into a clever fraud which was com- mitted upon the Kingston branch of the London and County Bank by means of a forged cheque. On Thursday afternoon a middle-aged man entered the bank, which is situated in the market place, and presented a cheque, bearing the name of Mr. David Batters, for JE700. Mr. Batters is a well- known Surrey cattle-dealer in a large way of busi- ness, and the appearance of the man, who was about middle height, fair, with a dark moustache, seemed to indicate that he was a well-to-do farmer. As it was by no means unusual to have such large cheques presented, and the signature appearing genuine, the money was paid, and the man left without arousing suspicion. Some time afterwards, however,a clerk fancied there was sometning wrong with the signature and sent for Mr. Baiters, who proved that the signature was a clever forgery. The authorities at Scotland-yard were communicated with, and the numbers of the notes given at once circulated throughout the country. It is beiieved that the forger is a person who has frequently had transactions with Mr. Batters, and the detectives are sanguine that they will be able to bring him to justice.

LOSS OF A GUNBOAT. News has just been received from Port-au-Prince of the total loss at sea of the Haytian gun- boat Alexandre Petron, and the loss of 89 lives. The disaster occurred on the 6th instoffCanf Tiburon. a remote spot on the Haytian coast, and it was so ter- ribly complete that the news did not reach the capi- tal till about a week afterwards. The only survivor of 90 men who were on board at the time of the disaster is a coloured seaman. He went down with the vessel, and on coming to the surface was able to seize a plank from the wreckage around him, on which ha floated in the open sea for a day and a half. He was ultimately rescued in a state of ex- haustion by a passing sailing vessel. He was unable to explain the cause of the gunboat foundering. Ail he could say was that the vessel suddenly went down bows first, and that the majority of those on board were never seen again. A few managed to get clear, and they swam about until they became ex- hausted, and then sank. Among those who perished, in addition to the officers and crew, were General Moliner, the special envoy from Dominica to Hayti, Mr. Cohen, formerly Haytian Minister to Mexico, and Mr. Dejean, the Haytian Consul-General in St. Domingo, who was returning to that country charged to arrange the final terms of an agreement between the two Republics.

CHEAP POSTAL FACILITIES. I With the example set by Paris before him it i« j luite time the Postmaster-General turned his atte*- { lion to cheapening and facilitating rapid exchange )f communication between diffarent points in the cnetropolis. In this important particular we are much behind our neighbours across the Channel. Attention has frequently been called to the fact that we have an elaborate pneumatic system rami- fying the whole of London, through which written II messages are propelled by compressed air from one post-office to another at a nominal expense. The message is sent bodily in a few minutes without the intervention of telegraphic instruments or operators. As a matter of fact the bulk of inter- metropolitan "telegrams" are so despatched, and yet we are called upon to pay full telegraphic rates, as if the transmission were accomplished by the more costly process. They certainly do things better in Paris, or at any rate treat the public more liberally. For 3d. you can send a postcard to any 1 quarter of the city at telegraphic speed by the same means,a feat only to be accomplished in London by I the distinctly costly "special messenger" service. The introduction of a similar system here would be welcomed by business men, and could not fail te result in an enormous increase of such messages.— Daily Chronicle.

THE INDIAN RELIGIOUS RIOTS. The causes of the religious riots continue, ways the Times Calcutta correspondent, to be hotly dis- cussed in the native Press. The Congress organs express great indignation at the attempts which have been made in some quarters to fix the respon- sibility on their party. The Hindu papers, with a few exceptions, maintain that the Cow Protection League had nothing to do with the movement, and assert with more or less vehemence that the blame lies with the Government, with the Moham- medans, or w-H'v the youth and inexperience of the magistrates in "be disturbed districts. Some more violent journals openly declare that the European officials instigated the disturbances with a view to gain credit for putting them down, or for the pur- pose of bringing the agitation for the larger employ- ment of natives into disrepute. One Calcutta paper published in English warns the Government that if it persists in suspecting the Gaurakshini Sabha, it will lead the natives to believe that it does so because the English are a beef-eating people. Sir Charles Crosthwaite's speeches and minutes have drawn down a torrent of abuse upon his head, but some few Hindu journals take the view which is almost universal among the Europeans and Mohammedans that he may be right in tracing a direct connection between the Gaurakshini Sabha and the riots in Bengal. The Government has selected Mr. Le Mesurier, of the Civil Service, for special duty in Behar, to inquire into the history and ramifications of the cow-protection movement, and into the differences that exist between the Hindus and Mohammedans. His duties will be extensive, and he will have, among other things, to counsel mutual toleration, to put down riots, and to act as public prosecutor when disturbances occur. It may be hoped that his labours will throw some light upon the subject and be productive of good.

DEATH OF MR. THOMAS HAWKSLEY. The death occurred [on Saturday of Mr. Thomas Hawksley, F.R.S., one of the most eminent and best-known civil engineers of the present day. He was born at Nottingham in 1807, and began practice at an early age, being appointed, about 1830, to construct waterworks in his native town. In 1852 he removed to London, where he had stood for a long period at the head of that branch of the pro- fession having to do with water and gas supply, and with drainage and hydraulic works generally. His practice in this line had been so large, says the Times, that it would be impossible to give here even a summary ot his works. He himself was accustomed to say that he had constructed above 150 water- works, many of the largest character; and that there were no important towns in Great Britain, and, indeed, very few great cities in the civilised world, in regard to which he had not been pro- fessionally consulted in some way or other. All that can be done here is to indicate briefly some of the more prominent matters in which he has rendered public service. Among the waterworks, he constructed, about 1850, for Liverpool, the Rivington Pike works (then considered the largest in existence) for obtaining a supply from hills 22 miles distant; and he was more recently connected with the still greater work of bringing to the same town water from the sources of the Severn in North Wales. Other towns supplied from high gathering grounds were Leeds, Leicester, Sheffield, Huddersfield, the Weardale district (in- cluding Durham). Rochdale, Barnsley, Bury, Merthyr, and Bridgetown (Barbados). Among the towns supplied by pumping were Darlington, Stockton, Middlesborough, Norwich, Nottingham, Derby, Yarmouth, Sunderland, York, Southport, Cambiidge, Coventry, Oxford, Worcester, Chelten- ham, Boston, Lowestoft, Stockholm, and Altona. At the time of his dea.th he hi d large extensions in hand for many of the towns above named, as well as for Newcastle-on-Tyne and Bristol. The number of gas worh constructed by him is very large, including these for Nottingham, Derby, Sunderland, Cambridge. Lowestoft, and Bombay, ani among the towns in which he designed the sewerage arrange ) ents may be ment lorn d Birmingham, Worcester, Hertford, Windsor, Whitehaven, and Aylesbury. Although it was not s, rieU" within his province as an engineer, he is gratefully remembered at Nottingham for his erection ot a C'olela hospital there in 1832, and for having, at a larer time, pro- moted and c, rried through a measure for the enclosure of lands, which facilitated great exten- sions of the town.

THE CORNISH MIMNG DISASTER. INTERVIEW WITH TRh RESCUED MINER. TheCa.bbornecorrtSpondensof the Daily 7lem»ha« had an interview with Davies, the rescued miner. He was wing a prop at. the time of the disaster. I had not been sawing more than aoout three minutes, he said, wi en I heard fome limber crack- ing, and then there came a tri-menuOiis, deafening rush of stuff, whii'h knocked me • r nine feet away under tha levellers at the botui; «d she level. I was struck on ■ lie head and less. partners aimed to run, but they must. have knocked down where they siood and buried. Wh: n I came to myself a hit, I found [ was face downwards, my head being lev er than m\ heels, hut i managed to turn on nij left ?irie. Then 1 felt round with my hands to L Mil what posi ion I wa-s in. hut, I could not move muc' .for across my body w is a gr at, balk of timber. I f und that the place was a^out five feet long, two feet wide, ami throe feet high but the timber kept me down nearly fiat. I remained in that posh ion until Thi>r.-day midnight. Soon the timber above me began to creak, and I put up my hand an ■ f«!t it. I found :t was quartering, and I was afraid the pressure above would make it settle down on me The rocks above were so crushed t01èedhor at that same time that I saw flashes of fire come from them. but the hopp that the rescue party would come to my relief bore me up, although I dr*>&(Jed somet'mes that I might die of burner or thir f I shouted at thf top of my voice for help, hut no one could have heard me. I also called out to learn if any of my comrades were alive and bet I round I was alone. I could tell from th It after awhile that there was a d. ad tod, it. I cried tor mercy a long time; I shall nt-vei forget, it. I must have fallen asleep, for when n" I^nusday afternoon, about 6, the relit f pally aikmt me whether I knew what day it was I replied it as Wednesday afternoon. At about f; o'clo-k on Thursday evening someone called to mf-: iiiian) John, are you all righr. P" They thought iL was Osborne. I said: "I'm the son of Joseph Da\if- up to froon." Foe >uan said: "Cheer up, Dick, old man, wn will be in there to you directly." hen I knew they were so close I made a great effort, and after a long time I managed to turn in the small noace, ami I got in above the timber, a distance <vi about 10ft. I found it. full of small hollow placs I got to where J could go further, and the > S « i fi. who livcw npar me at Troon, crawled in 30f'. on his belly. He said, "Are you near?" I replied, "I' In just touching." He came forward a bit further and said, "Give me your havd." Tt-"11 h" put out his hand, and touched what he thought min->: out it. was something cold —it was a dead m. 'a hand. He recovered himself from the shock, and got. a h.itohet passed in for me to widen the hole. I fid thi^. a^d he backed out, for the hole was 30 smull he could not. turn. I crawled out after him. I felt pretty well going out; but when I siood with the relief party I had to be supported.

The official report on the recently-discovered coalfield in Mergui, Burraah,estimates the available output at a million tons at least, one-third of it being superior to Indian coal. The rem > e;ie*s of Mergui from commercial centres and the great cost of labour, however, are serious drawbacka^fo the working of the mines.

MILK AS FOOD. [ A itrofig plea for the increased use of milk and its products as food is put forward by Dr. Bond, its products as food is put forward by Dr. Bond, of Gloucester, in the journal of the British Dairy Farmers' Association. According to Professor Huxley, ha says an adult person of average weight, under ordinary conditions, loses, in twenty-tour hours. SIb. of water, 4,000 grains of carbon, 300 grains of nitrogen, and about 300 grains of mineral matter mainly consisting of phosphates. Now three and a-half pints of new milk contain about 61b. of water, 4,200 grains of carbon, 308 grains of nitrogen, and nearly 308 grains of mineral matter, which is chiefly made up of phosphates. Thus, he adds, it is dearly possible for a man of average weight (1541b.)to keep himself in good condition by the daily consumption of about half a gallon of milk alone, and less, of course, is needed when bread or other farinaceous food is eaten with the milk. It would take l^lb. of lean beef to supply the nitrogen and 2glb. to supply the carbon, and the latter quantity, at any rate, would be an unhealthy daily ration, besides costing about three times as much as the milk. The excessive consumption of meat leads to gout and many minor ailments but what medical man, Dr. Bond asks, ever had to pre- scribe for a case which could be attributed to the over-consumption of milk. The writer gives some useful hints as to the means of rendering milk digestible to those who find that it disagrees with them, and alludes to the excellence of hot milk as a restorative, and of cream in cases of wasting disease..

AN UNPLEASANT POSITIONS A gentleman who resides in nighgata has been brought into a curious difficulty by doing a generous a tion. He is a retired doctor, a very mild and peaceful man. For many years now he has been in the habit of spending the winter in Rome, and always stayed at the same hotel. On his last visit 1 a young Italian waiter expressed an earnest desire to come to England, where he might learn English and also gain better wages, and asked the doctor to use his influence to obtain a situation for him. The hotel proprietor gave the youth an excellent character, and as the visitor also liked his manners and his willingness as a servant, he wrote to a friend near Liverpool who wanted a valet, and the Italian obtained the place. Nothing more occurred for some time, until the retired doctor received a letter from his acquaintance in Lancashire stating that the lad had mysteriously disappeared. He had done his work well; and given every satisfaction; there was nothing missing—in fact, he had gone away leaving his wages and all his other effects untouched. Subsequently he received another com- munication announcing that the Italian's body had been found in a canal, and that it was supposed lie had accidentally fallen in. Enclosed was a newspaper report of the inquest, with the verdict of found drowned. The retired doctor wrote to the lad's parents, who reside not tar from Rome. narrating the sad affair, and also sent them all their son's property, and the wages due to him. In reply he got a letter from them accusing him of having assassinated their boy, and informing him that they would have their revenge on him the next time he came to Rome. He was j'lst beginning to make his arrangements to go there for the winter when he received this unpleasant h-tter, and he at once wrote to the hotel proprietor asking his advice on the matter. The latter replied that, much as he desired to have the Englishman's patronage, he must strongly advise him not to come to Rome, as the people were sure to carry out their threat. The medical man is therefore deprived cf his usual winter sojourn, and is now in terror lest through some secret society he may be called on even in London -for the Italians know his address—to answer for the life of a man whom he did his best to befriend.

THE WAR IN 8 A MO A. SHOCKING SCENES. By the last mail a correspondent, writing from Samoa, gives an account of the terrible sights which were witnessed there as the result of a battle between the forces of Malietoa, the King, and of Mataafa, the turbulent chief. The first reliable news that the white people had of the war was the wounded being carried to the Mission House and the dead, slung on poles, being brought through the streets. Theu came the gruesome sight of the heads of the enemy that had beer, cut. 06, and were on their way to tbe king, to be shewn to his Majesty as unmistakable trophies of the war. The bearers of the heads came capering up to the King. His Majesty thanked the warriors. He appeared to shrink from the ordeal, but was forced to undergo it by his brother. The wounded received attention at the London Mission House. It seems that Mataafa's followers numbered 400,and those of Malietoa about 600. The belligerents first met near the Vailele plantation house, Mataafa's men being behind a stone wall. At first the meeting was in the nature of a palaver, the parties shaking hands and kissing each other. Then one of the leaders appeared to grow indignant. Suddenly a gun was fired, and then Mataafa's followers fled to their fortress, the enemy following, but mostly crawling on the ground and dodging behind trees. Malietoa's men got possession cf the gate, and then carried the fort with a rush. The hé{ht inside was short but stubborn, and after the defeat of Mataafa the most shocking sights were witnessed by a German trader whose plantation was near. Many were lyiug wounded, and all had their heads chopped off by the victors. Several girls were amongst the killed. On Malietoa's side five were killed and 12 wounded. Mataafa, lost between 30 and 40 killed and many wounded, who were carried away, otherwise their heads would have been cut oft. Mataafa, with 700 men, had fortified a place called Manono, and with six cannon would have held out some time. The commanders of the various warships at Samoa were instructed to support Malietoa, and on this account the German ship Sperber and her Majesty's ships Katoovuba and Uussard went to Manono and threatened to bombard it if Mataafa aid not surrender. Mataafa went to the Katoomba, along with 28 chiefs, ar.d surrendered. Mataafa was subsequently transferred to the Sperber, the German man-of-war, and taken to the Winon Group, 250 miles uistant, and there placed in exile. Mataafa's nephew was killed in the fight, and his heaJ was the chief trophy presented to Malietoa.

ALLEGED HEARTLESS CONDUCT. On Monday, at North London Police-court, before Mr. Bros, Frederick Cecil Mortimer, 38, was charged on a warrant, for obtaining, by false pretences, a sum of £20 and other moneys belonging to Mary Ann S. oggins, a single woman, of Churchiil-road, Hackney.—Mr. D. A. Romain, who prosee said the prisoner had not only got the money of the prosecutrix, but had seduced her under promise of marriage, he being at the time a married man and -esidit.g with his wife and children. The prisoner had been in the Grenadier Guards and had the medal for service in Egypt. For ame time past he had had no employment. In September of last year tt e prisoner met the prosecutrix in Hackney. The fritnc: hip ripened into affection oo her part, and she acci ded to his request when he suggested marriage. He said he was a single man that he had been a soldier, and was then a detective at the London Docks. The prosecutrix was 30 years of age, and working hpuseke per to two single ladies at Hackrey. the prisoner and the prosecutrix met fre- Quentlv, and in November he commenced asking her ,1' money. First he said he had lost his situation through visiting her, and she lent him £4; after that lie said he had got another situation as clerk and cvlicctor, and that £ 20 was necessary as security. She lent him the E20, and he promised to bring her the receipt for the sum from his employt.r. He did not bring her the receipt, and she had not received it up to the present. After this the prisoner told the prosecutrix that he got into arrears with his collections, and she let him have a further £ 10 with which to balance his accounts. Inquiries made shewed that the prisoner was married in 1885, and that all the time he was courting the prorecntiix he was living with his wife and children.—The prosecutrix was now called, and bore out the statement of her solicitor. —In r ply to the magistrate, she said she certainly would not have parted with her money had she no) believed that he was a single man, intending tc marry her, and that he wanted the money to im- prove his losition. The prisoner had told her he was tired of a. single life, and got her permission to go to a register office to get the necessary licence for mairiage. He wrote her saying he was too late for the licence; and since August she had never seen or heard from the prisoner. She had written to him, but he had not replied. Then she went to the address he gave in Spitalfields, and found that he was a married man.-The prisoner cross-examined the prosecutrix with a view of sh- wing that intimacy between them was not con- sequent on his promising to marry her; but she con- tended that was the sole reason, and also the reason why she let him have the money.-Mr. Bros re- manded the prisoner.

THE REVOLUTION IN BRAZIL. POSITION AT RIO DE JANEIRO. The somewhat contradictory telegrams to haitd on Saturday evening throw but little light upon the actual position of affairs at Rio de Janeiro. There is, says a Pall Mall Gazette correspondent, formerly residing in Rio de Janeiro, no reason to discredit the official message received by the Brazilian delegate at Paris. Nobody who knows the Brazilians at home will credit the residents of the capital, largely composed cf negroes and half-breeds, with any particular excitement in consequence of the quarrel between Admiral de Mello and President Peixoto. No race more fully reoognises the wisdom of the adage that "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. "No doubt it would be very inconvenient to be bom- barded by the rebel ships. But-who can tell P about represents the philosophy of the majority. It is, of course, possible that the revolutionary Admiral will shell the town if terms are not arrived at, but I think it improbable. Firstly, his quarrel is with the existing Government, and its most prominent members have with- drawn from the city. It would be impossible to hold the latter and keep the tiny squadron even partially manned. There are no fortifica- tions which could be seized and held against attack- ing forces. The forts at Cobras Villegagnon, St. Lucia, and Santa Cruz are (according to the latest news) still held by partisans of the Republic, and, although weak in artillery, are a match for the rebel squadron. The Government still keeps com- mand of the railways, and there does not appear to be any danger of starvation. That under a threat of destructive bombardment — the fire already directed upon the city being evidently rather intended as a demonstration than to do much damage-Admiral de Mello may obtain stores and funas, is probable enough. That he will wan. tonly destroy the city by way of bringing President Peixoto to terms of abdication is hardly likely. He has, moreover, to reckon with the foreign ships of war in the port, and however much their com- manders may hesitate to interfere in Brazilian affairs they will scarcely permit the destruction of life and property, in the latter of which many of their own countrymen are interested, which must follow such an act of revenge. Nothing as yet lends colour to the report cabled from an American source that Admiral de Mello may plav the part of a second General Monk. He was an active supporter of the now president until, as his enemies allege, disappointed ambition led him to revolt. As regards the "feelings of intense bitter- ness against President Peixoto," reported in the New York telegram of the 22nd, we somewhat mis- trust the statement in view of the continued loyalty of the land forces. That some discontent is felt at the interference with trade and food supplies which the rebel action has undoubtedly caused is probable enough, and Admiral de Mello's party, which are obviously too much in the minority to aid his views effectively, naturally throw all the blame on President Peixoto, who, however, if not particularly popular is not parti- cularly disliked. The whole movement on either side is confined to the official and upper classes, the ordinarv brazileiro caring but little who rules, provided his own comfort is not interfered with. Except for the possibility of British property being destroyed if any fresh bombardRent takes place, there is but little to interest Great Britain as to the outcome of this revolution in petto. Our trade is not likely to be effected whether Peixoto retains or De Mello seizes the reins of power. The following official telegram has been received from the Brazilian Legation, dated Rio de Janeiro, September 24th: "The revolt of a portion of the fleet is becoming weaker every day, and Admiral de Mello is reduced to the last extremities. All the States denounce this culpable attempt, and declare with enthusiasm for the legal Government of Mar- shal Peixoto. The army is entirely loyal. The town of Rio is tranquil, and has resumed its ordinary aspect. The Government is fully confident of its power to maintain its authority." '°_, PROBABLE REs RATIOS OF THE MONARCHY. The Vienna Tagbiatt t ut shed the account of aa interview which a member cf its staff has had with a prominent Brazilian diplomatist, who arrived in Vienna a few days ago from the scene of the revolt, and may therefore be considered to be exceptionally well-informed as to the present state of affairs there. According to the statements of the diplo- matist, which maJe entirely on his own respon- sibility, the ,b: ct the insurgent party under the leadership of Admiral di Mello was to put an end to the favouritism which, under the rule of Presi- dent Peixoto, has existed to an extent scarcely credible, and which has produced an indescribable condition ot demoralisation throughout the country. The President was the first to introduce and en- courage the systematic nepotism of which no one who is not a native of the country is able to form an idea, and during the comparatively short time that Marshal Peixoto has been at the head of affairs untold millions of the public funds have been wantonly squandered. Many of his friends who a year ago were in anything but wealthy circum- stances are to-day possessed of fortunes ranging from five to eight millions of francs, and a young lady who was regarded by the President with especial favour is known to have accumulated nearly ten million francs during his limited term of office. The revolt was chiefly caused by the rapid decline of the material welfare of the country. Last year the Brazilian coffee crop was far superior to that of any previous year within memory, and no less than five hundred million francs' worth of coffee was disposed of in Europe alone. In consequence money was plentiful and the prospects of the country were exceptionally bright. Suddenly, how- ever, everything changed. This year's coffee harvest did not amount to one-eighth of that of last year, gold coin became rare and circulated only in restricted circles, and by degrees the pecuniary straits reached such a pitch that there was a premium on the ordinary silver and copper currency of the country. As indicating the low ebb to which the country had sunk and the scarcity of small coin, it may be stated that at present the passenger tickets of the Rio de Janeiro Tramway Company, costing 250 reis apiece, circulate in the Brazilian eapital instead of money, and are gladly accepted in payment. Admiral di Mello, the leader of the insurrection, Is an adherent of the Monarchical party, and was a trusted friend of Dom Pedro, the late Emperor, and the prospects of a restoration of the Empire are more favourable than they formerly were. Perhaps Admiral di Mello will be entrusted with the Presi- dency after the fall of Peixoto, or with the forma- tion of a triumvirate to undertake the temporary conduct of affairs. This, however, could only be considered a provisional measure pending a return of the Imperial dynasty; and in the event of a restoration taking place it is generally understood that Prince Pedro, son of the Count and Countess d'Eu, and consequently grandson of the deposed Emperor, will be called upon to ascend the throve. The supposition, generally current in Europe, that the monarchical system has few trustworthy adherents in Brazil is entirely incorrect. The majority of the inhabitants, and especially the better classes, are in favour of it, and the navy, which has remained monarchical in its tendencies, is willing to support Admiral di Mello in any measures which he may deem fit to take. It must be borne in mind that the Brazilian army numbers only 15,930 men, including both the regular force and the reserves, whilst the navy has at its disposal 90,000 men, 12 large ironclads of the most modern construction,20 smaller warships, six despatch boats, 12 torpedo-boats, and 15 military transports. This overwhelming array Admiral di Mello, who is one of the most talented naval officers that the country possesses, and who is descended from one of the most prominent families in Brazil, has now at his command. "That victory will eventually be on his side," concluded the diplomatist, "I have not the slightest doubt, and after him will come the Monarchy. Of that I am equally certain."